• shalafi@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    edit-2
    13 days ago

    Complex limb? Let me see an elephant tie a granny knot. Maybe with training? OK. Do a square knot.

    Complex communication? Elephants have communication skills on par with a 3-4 year old human. An intensely trained dog might top 200 words. My vocabulary is an easy 50,000 words. Yours is too.

    Binocular vision is a must, that’s a given. Damn near every animal on the planet has it, even some worms.

    • Sludgehammer@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      13 days ago

      Complex limb? Let me see an elephant tie a granny knot. Maybe with training? OK. Do a square knot.

      Complex communication? Elephants have communication skills on par with a 3-4 year old human. An intensely trained dog might top 200 words. My vocabulary is an easy 50,000 words. Yours is too.

      Now apply both of these challenges to a chimpanzee. I doubt one could tie a knot very well. Washoe the chimp we taught sign language had a vocabulary of only 450. Yet, I have I on good authority that a very close relative of chimpanzees have developed complex thought, complex language and advanced tool use and creation.